Literary fiction promotes empathy, theory of mind, and critical thinking skills

Abstract

Studying literature can indeed improve brain power and critical thinking skills. When we read fiction, our brains are engaged in a process called "mental simulation," where we imagine the characters, settings, and events in the story. This mental simulation activates various regions of the brain, including those responsible for language processing, memory, and empathy. Additionally, reading fiction can enhance our cognitive abilities, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. It also helps improve our vocabulary and language skills. So, reading fiction is not only enjoyable but also beneficial for our brains. Research suggests that reading literary fiction is an effective way to enhance the brain's ability to keep an open mind while processing information, a necessary skill for effective decision-making. It is an open-hearted acceptance I am going to begin this article by posing an argument: Reading fiction is important to understand the society with open mind. The content polishes your brainpower and builds your evidences set. This research article will discuss the necessity of studying literature in brief.

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National Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development
www.multidisciplinaryjournal.org
ISSN: 2455-9040
Received: 20-08-2023, Accepted: 06-09-2023, Published: 21-09-2023
Volume 8, Issue 2, 2023, Page No. 135-137
Literary fiction promotes empathy, theory of mind, and critical thinking skills
Ravipati Kumara Swamy
Assistant Professor, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Deemed to be University, Green Fields, Vaddeswaram,
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Abstract
Studying literature can indeed improve brain power and critical thinking skills. When we read fiction, our brains are engaged
in a process called "mental simulation," where we imagine the characters, settings, and events in the story. This mental
simulation activates various regions of the brain, including those responsible for language processing, memory, and empathy.
Additionally, reading fiction can enhance our cognitive abilities, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. It
also helps improve our vocabulary and language skills. So, reading fiction is not only enjoyable but also beneficial for our
brains. Research suggests that reading literary fiction is an effective way to enhance the brain's ability to keep an open mind
while processing information, a necessary skill for effective decision-making. It is an open-hearted acceptance I am going to
begin this article by posing an argument: Reading fiction is important to understand the society with open mind. The content
polishes your brainpower and builds your evidences set. This research article will discuss the necessity of studying literature in
brief.
Keywords: Fiction, reading, research, people, critical thinking, empathy
Introduction
Literature reflects both good and bad values of the society.
In reflecting the bad values, it makes us to rectify and solve
the issues. In reflection of good values in the society it
makes us to emulate. Often as reflection, literature presents
a picture of what people think, say and do in the society.
Fiction is a genre of literature that encompasses imaginative
or invented stories. It is a form of storytelling that presents
events, characters, and settings that are not based on real-life
events or people. Fiction can take various forms, including
novels, short stories, plays, and poems. It allows authors to
create and explore different worlds, ideas, and perspectives.
The primary purpose of fiction is to entertain and engage
readers by evoking emotions, sparking imagination, and
offering insights into the human condition. But, on the
contrary literature deals the social issues such as poverty,
homelessness, climate change, diaspora or immigration
stress, human rights, racial prejudice or caste discrimination,
gender inequality. The writers and they give their way of
solutions for these societal maladies based on their point of
view through their fictional divisions. Research, however,
suggests that reading fiction may provide far more
important benefits than nonfiction. For example, reading
fiction predicts increased social acuity and a sharper ability
to comprehend other people’s motivations. The writer could
be portrayal the genuine things that happen in society by
modifying his views and ideas who is a witness of his or her
civilization to interpret the good and evil of the
consequences. He could instruct the readers in all arenas.
Fiction can fulfil these gaps by caring ethics to regulate the
society. The works of authors show light of knowledge in
the dimness of ignorance. Fiction lets the readers to see
themselves and their world in a different light. Some of the
most valuable skills that managers look for in employees are
often difficult to define, let alone evaluate or quantify: self-
discipline, self-awareness, creative problem-solving,
empathy, learning agility, adaptiveness, flexibility,
positivity, rational judgment, generosity, and kindness,
among others. Recent research in neuroscience suggests that
you might look to the library for solutions;
Reading literary fiction helps to develop the theory of
mind
Maryanne Wolf, cognitive scientist and author of Reader,
Come Home, argues that “the quality of our reading” stands
as “an index to the quality of our thought.” If we want better
thinkers in the business world, we have to build better
readers. Rather than reading books on psychology, fiction
can help us understand our experience Fiction and free
association help us to connect with our feelings, says Dr
Christina Moutsou. If you are struggling to make sense of
how you feel, find a therapist here, My patients often ask me
if they could read a book to help themselves further. The
question usually takes the form: ‘Could you recommend a
book I could read specifically on my symptom or on this
problem I am dealing with?’ I rarely recommend
psychotherapy or psychology books, as I feel they may, in
fact, make the problem worse through creating further
anxiety what needs to be understood in terms of the person’s
specific experience. What I often suggest though is a novel
or a short story or a memoir. All these genres are more
likely to give a glimpse of direct experience that can move
or even transform. In a recent talk about the power or
reading to transform our lives, Michael Rosen talks
movingly about reading a poem which helped him connect
with his feelings about his son’s death. He says:
"There is an incredible poem (by Raymond Carver) where
he gets locked out of his own study and he looks back into
his study and thinks about himself. And he doesn’t say he is
thinking about death, he doesn’t say that, but as a reader you
can take it as a way of thinking about a person or yourself
who is not there. And I got utterly overwhelmed by it. I
remember thinking that’s exactly how I feel about Eddie and
that’s exactly how I feel about myself."

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Research suggests that reading literary fiction is an effective
way to enhance the brain’s ability to keep an open mind
while processing information, a necessary skill for effective
decision-making. In a 2013 study, researchers examined
something called the need for cognitive closure, or the
desire to “reach a quick conclusion in decision-making and
an aversion to ambiguity and confusion.”
Fiction indeed provides a unique opportunity to explore the
world through the narrator's mindset. In literature, the
narrator is the lens through which readers perceive the story
and its characters, and this perspective can shape our
understanding of the world in several ways:
Empathy
Fictional narratives allow readers to step into the shoes of
characters with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and
viewpoints. By immersing ourselves in the narrator's
mindset, we can develop empathy for people who are
different from us, helping to bridge gaps of understanding
and promote tolerance.
Subjectivity
Narrators in fiction often have their own biases, beliefs, and
emotions, just like real people. This subjectivity can offer a
more nuanced view of the world, emphasizing that reality is
not always black and white. Readers learn to appreciate the
complexity of human experiences and the ambiguity of
moral and ethical dilemmas.
Exploration of Themes
Through the narrator's perspective, fiction can delve into a
wide range of themes, from love and loss to power and
identity. These themes are often universal, and by
experiencing them through the narrator's eyes, readers can
gain insight into their own lives and the human condition.
Critique and Commentary
Many works of fiction use the narrator's mindset to provide
social, political, or cultural commentary. By presenting a
story through a particular lens, authors can critique or
satirize aspects of society, encouraging readers to reflect on
their own beliefs and values.
Psychological Depth
Fiction allows for the exploration of characters' inner
thoughts and emotions, giving readers a window into the
complexities of the human mind. This can lead to a greater
understanding of human psychology and behavior.
Fiction helps to understand people’s emotions.
Reading fiction helps you understand other people’s
perspectives. Fiction has a power that no other form of
communication does: the power to insert you fully and
completely in someone else’s mind. It is a blend between
the mind of the reader and the writer, and the attentions of
reader and character. Reading novels can provide insight
into the emotions and experiences of others. Novels often
delve into the inner thoughts and feelings of characters,
allowing readers to empathize and understand different
perspectives. This can help readers develop a greater
understanding of human emotions and enhance their ability
to relate to others.
Fiction is a Source of knowledge and information
A person developing and aiming for success should steep
themselves in fiction, and read it copiously. Fiction reading
is one of the contemporary subjects across the globe. As a
matter, it can really improve one’s imagination and
emotional intelligence skill. It helps to improve the quality
of new literature at the dawn of civilization. Fiction attracts
the attention of wide spectrum of audience. Because its
main goal is to present facts and not to communicate the
emotions of the author to be convinced and judged.
Fictional writing uses senses and emotions to create a strong
visual in the reader’s mind whereas other forms of writing
typically only leave the reader with facts and information
instead of emotional intrigue.
Fiction mirrors the society
Fiction serves as a mirror to the human experience,
reflecting our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions through
the narrator's lens. It encourages us to step outside of our
own mindset and explore the multifaceted nature of
existence, ultimately enriching our understanding of the
world and our place in it.
Fiction addresses conflicts and challenges in society
Fiction offers insights into societal issues and provides
potential solutions. Fictional stories can inspire change and
positive action. Fiction reading contribute to a richer, more
empathetic society. Research on reading shows literature
study to be one of the best methods for building empathy
critical thinking, and creativity.
Fiction lets you see the world through a character’s eyes
Watching a character interact with the world around them is
powerful. When studying history, a history book gives you a
series of dry facts and anecdotes, but historical fiction sets
you down in the middle of the time period, allows you to
touch and taste the world around you, interact with
contemporaries, solve problems. You understand the period
contextually as you never could from the removed
perspective of a history book. Good fiction runs deep into
the realms of psychology and philosophy. It explores and
uncovers paradigm. It allows you to understand perspectives
you’ve never seen before, both psychological and physical.
The key aspects of literature
Literature can indeed enhance critical thinking skills in
various ways. Critical thinking is the ability to analyze,
evaluate, and synthesize information, and literature provides
an excellent platform for developing these skills. Here are
some ways in which literature can enhance critical thinking:
Complex Characters and Motivations
In literature, characters often have multifaceted personalities
and motivations. Analyzing their actions, decisions, and
inner conflicts can encourage readers to think critically
about human behavior and psychology.
Diverse Perspectives
Literature often exposes readers to different cultures,
historical periods, and social contexts. Exploring these
diverse perspectives can challenge preconceived notions and
encourage critical reflection on issues like cultural
relativism, ethics, and societal norms.

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137
Interpretation and Inference
Literature often contains symbolism, allegory, and
ambiguity. Readers must engage in interpretation and
inference to uncover deeper meanings or understand the
author's intent. This encourages critical thinking by
requiring readers to analyze textual evidence and draw
logical conclusions.
Moral and Ethical Dilemmas
Many literary works explore complex moral and ethical
dilemmas. Readers are often asked to weigh the
consequences of characters' actions and make their own
judgments, which promotes critical thinking about ethics
and values.
Identifying Bias and Perspective
Critical thinking involves recognizing bias and
understanding the perspective from which information is
presented. Literature often presents biased or unreliable
narrators, which can help readers develop the skills to
identify and question biased viewpoints.
Analyzing Narrative Structure
Examining the structure of a story, including plot
development, narrative style, and point of view, encourages
readers to think critically about how these elements
contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the work.
Comparative Analysis
Comparing different works of literature or characters within
a single work can foster critical thinking. Readers can
analyze similarities and differences, drawing conclusions
about themes, character development, and more.
Argumentation and Debate
Discussing and debating literary interpretations with others
can sharpen critical thinking skills. Readers must defend
their viewpoints with evidence from the text and respond to
counterarguments, honing their analytical abilities.
Creative Problem-Solving
Engaging with imaginative and creative narratives in
literature can inspire readers to think creatively and
critically about solving problems, as they may identify with
characters facing challenging situations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, literature offers a rich source of material for
enhancing critical thinking skills. Readers who engage with
literary works actively, analyze text, and explore diverse
perspectives can develop a deeper understanding of complex
issues and sharpen their critical thinking abilities. Literature
Study can also be an important tool for creating empathy,
allowing people to see and understand the perspectives of
those whose experiences may be very different from their
own. Literature has the power to find solutions for personal
and social problems.
References
1. https://welldoing.org/article/how-reading-fiction-can-
heal
2. https://hbr.org/2020/03/the-case-for-reading-fiction
3. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190523-does-
reading-fiction-make-us-better-people#:~:tet
4. https://oxfordsummercourses.com/articles/what-is-
creative writing
5. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-creative-
writing-definition-types-examples.html